Deck the halls, clear the land
Fresh from her pilgrimage to the US to see Donald Trump elected president, the mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has turned her attention to making Australia great for those she calls “the forgotten people”.
Rinehart has written a seasonal piece for the conservative magazine the Spectator headlined “All I want for Christmas is … to make Australia great”.
The “forgotten people”, in Rinehart’s eyes, are farmers who are not allowed to clear as much land as they like and those who work in northern Queensland and north-west Australia who have to pay tax.
She blames “too many government selected immigrants” for the housing, crime and hospital crises.
On her Christmas wishlist, “inspired by the president of Argentina”, is the removal of red tape to pave the way for Australians “to enjoy opportunities, higher living standards and tax cuts”.
“This would bring much Chrissie cheer for those struggling, and those working hard to support their families and save and build their businesses, i.e. all the forgotten people!,” she wrote.
For good measure the Hancock Prospecting executive chairman called for the immediate release of all those in jail for illegal land-clearing and the opening of national parks for farmers and pastoralists to graze stock “as they used to”.
